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Clippers hold off Thunder in Oklahoma City debut

Oct 15, 2008 - 3:29 AM OKLAHOMA CITY (Ticker) -- Mike Taylor and the Los Angeles Clippers spoiled the Oklahoma City Thunder's first-ever home game at the Ford Center.

Taylor came up with a crucial steal and scored four points in the final minute as the Clippers held on for a 90-88 victory over the Thunder on Tuesday.

Taylor, a rookie point guard battling for playing time behind veterans Baron Davis and Jason Hart, came up big down the stretch as the Clippers held off a fourth-quarter rally. Tuesday's game was the only home preseason game for the Thunder, who are entering their first season here since relocating from Seattle.

Kevin Durant's 3-pointer with 6:41 remaining gave the Thunder their first lead since the first quarter, and it was a back-and-forth battle from then on.

Desmond Mason put the Thunder on top with a layup with just over a minute on the clock, but Taylor didn't let them get any further. On Oklahoma City's next possession, he stripped rookie guard Russell Westbrook and led a charge the other way.

Ricky Davis' tip-in put the Clippers on top for good. With 31 seconds remaining, Taylor drove down the lane and delivered an emphatic dunk to make it a three-point game, then added a pair of free throws moments later to help put the victory on ice.

The 6-2, 165-pound guard - who in June became the first player in league history to get picked in the draft after playing in the D-League - finished with 14 points, three assists and three steals. He saw extra playing time as Baron Davis - the club's marquee offseason acquisition - was battling flu-like symptoms and did not make the road trip.

The Clippers were also without forward-center Marcus Camby, who is nursing a bruised right heel, and forward Tim Thomas, who has a strained left groin.

Second-year forward Al Thornton led the way for Los Angeles with 23 points on 8-of-13 shooting and six boards. Ricky Davis added 13 points, nine rebounds and four assists off the bench.

Free-throw shooting doomed the Thunder (1-4) down the stretch, as they were just 5-of-13 from the foul line in the fourth quarter.

Durant led the team with 19 points but was just 6-of-18 from the floor and committed six turnovers. Johan Petro registered a double-double with 12 points and 15 boards.